By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
NEWBERG, Ore. -- Kendra Knapp (Jr., RF, Portland, OR/Sunset HS) earned three hits and Faith Collar (So., P/UT, Portland, OR/Roosevelt HS) pounded a triple for Willamette University during a Northwest Conference doubleheader at George Fox University on Friday, April 7. The Bruins defeated the Bearcats in both games, winning 8-0 on the run rule in five innings and 4-3.
George Fox upped its record to 18-12 on the season, 11-7 in the NWC. Willamette fell to 13-19, 8-14 in the NWC.
In the first game, GFU pitcher Ashley Davis held the Bearcats to three singles, while recording five strikeouts with one walk. Willamette's hits were by Knapp, Marykate DeLuca (Sr., C, San Diego, CA/San Diego International Studies), and Brianna Majors (Sr., SS/2B, San Diego, CA/Cathedral Catholic HS).
Kenna Davis (So., 3B/SS/P, Alameda, CA/Alameda HS) of Willamette pitched a three-hitter in the second game, as the Bearcats outhit the Bruins 9-3. GFU rallied from a 3-0 deficit after four innings by scoring one run in the fifth, before Claire Fountain hit a two-run homer in the sixth and Kamryn Potter belted a walk-off solo homer with one out in the bottom of the seventh.
Willamette and George Fox will conclude the series with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 8 at the Morse Athletic Field. The doubleheader is set to begin at 12 p.m. (PDT).
Bearcats Earn Nine Hits in Second Game
Willamette received two hits each from Knapp, Emma Elliott (Fy., OF, Battle Ground, WA/Battle Ground HS), and Gianna Marchese (Grad., 3B/1B, Seattle, WA/Bishop Blanchet HS/St. Martin's Univ.) in the second game, but George Fox managed to slip past the Bearcats, 4-3. Two home runs by the Bruins and three errors by the Bearcats were the difference.
The Bearcats opened the scoring in the top of the fourth inning. Elliott and DeLuca singled with on out. With two outs and runners at first and third, Collar belted a triple into right field for a 2-0 lead. Marchese tacked on a single, allowing Collar to score. GFU cut the margin to 3-1 in the bottom of the fifth. Kimberly Pulido singled to open the inning and went to third on a two-base error at the end of the play. Pulido scored on a sacrifice fly by Potter.
In the top of the sixth, Willamette had runners at first and third with two outs, but a groundout ended the threat. In the bottom of the inning, Sydney Sandifer of George Fox reached first base on an infield error with two outs. Fountain blasted a two-run homer to tie the score. The Bruins started the bottom of the seventh with a flyout by pinch-hitter Kaelyn Jewell. Potter batted next and hit a solo home run, as GFU won the game.
Elliott finished 2 of 3 with a run scored for Willamette. Knapp and Marchese also went 2 for 3, with Marchese adding an RBI. In addition to the homers by Fountain and Potter, the Bruins only other hit was Pulido's single in the fifth. Emma Eastman struck out two batters in one inning of relief to move to 2-0 for GFU. Kenna Davis of Willamette recorded six strikeouts and four walks, while falling to 5-6.
Bruins Defeat Bearcats in First Game
George Fox began the doubleheader by scoring two runs in the first inning, and the Bruins went on to win 8-0 in five innings. Potter started the bottom of the first with a single to right field. With one out, Reagan Medina reached first and second on an error in left field as Potter advanced to third. Emma Classen hit a sacrifice fly to right, allowing Potter to score. Aliya Harmon followed with an RBI single.
The Bruins increased their lead to 3-0 in the third inning with a solo homer by Classen. Pulido added a three-run homer in the fourth, as George Fox grabbed a 6-0 margin. Sandifer and Brooke Riggins provided RBI singles in the fifth stanza, as the Bruins ended the game with two outs on the run rule.
Classen of GFU was the only player on either team with more than one hit. She went 2 of 2 with a run, a homer, and two RBIs. Ashley Davis improved to 8-5 with the win for GFU.
